World Series Finals Treble For Van Gerwen

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN won the Ladbrokes World Series of Darts Finals for a third successive year as he raced past Gary Anderson 11-6 in Sunday's decider in Glasgow.

The world number one has been unbeaten since the season-ending World Series Finals were introduced in 2015, and extended that winning run to 12 games at the Braehead Arena as he scooped the £50,000 first prize.

Both Van Gerwen and Anderson won two events apiece on the global World Series tour this year, and backed up that form by winning through to the final over the weekend.

Van Gerwen, the champion in Shanghai and Las Vegas in July, followed up Saturday's opening victory over Max Hopp by seeing off Rob Cross 10-4 in Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals.

That tie was a repeat of last weekend's European Championship final, and Van Gerwen was again victorious as he averaged 108.83 in a dominant performance.

He then recovered from 2-0 and 3-1 down in the semi-finals against Daryl Gurney before taking an 11-8 victory, aided by two 11-darters and a 158 checkout.

Van Gerwen opened the final with a 103 checkout as he capitalised on three misses from Anderson, who levelled in 12 darts only to see the Dutchman pull clear to 4-1 as he followed up successive 12-darters of his own with an 82 finish.

Anderson claimed three of the next four to reduce the gap to 6-4, following a 171 score with a 94 finish to break throw in one leg, only to see the World Champion claim four in a row to move to the brink of victory at 10-4.

Anderson hit back with tops and double four to pull back two legs, but when he was unable to take out 132 his rival stepped in to clinically take out 87 to retain the title once again.

"I'm really glad that I won this trophy again," said Van Gerwen. "Gary always makes you work hard and you know what you're going to get from him.

"Winning the first leg, when he missed three darts at a double, gave me confidence from the beginning and from there my finishing and scoring power was there at the right moments."

Van Gerwen's triumph followed up his fourth successive European Championship title last weekend and comes ahead of his bid to win another event for a third straight year when he defends the Grand Slam of Darts from November 11-19.

"Every tournament is special and this is fantastic," he added. "Around this period you want to perform close to your best and I want to win every tournament.

"I have that extra gear when I have to and you always have to believe in yourself. I always want to perform and you always need to be hungry, otherwise you can't win."

Anderson - a World Series winner in Dubai and Perth this year - followed up Saturday's victory over Chris Dobey by defeating Gerwyn Price 10-8 and James Wade 11-5 on his way to the final.

Having lost out to great rival Van Gerwen, Anderson admitted: "Michael's good, isn't he! I love playing Michael, I've been battered tonight but I'm looking forward to next time.

"I'm struggling to keep up with him - I used to be able to play at his pace!

"This was a good weekend for me - it's always nice to get to a final in Scotland and it's a shame I couldn't win in front of my own fans."

October's World Grand Prix champion Gurney followed up last weekend's semi-final in the European Championship by defeating Peter Wright at the last eight stage for a second successive Sunday, winning 10-7 in their quarter-final.

Wade overcame Belgian youngster Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-6 as he won through to the semi-finals to follow up his three last four appearances on the global circuit this year.